Closer to Crazy: Who Are The Players--Meet Alexis
Alexis is a character that appears in more than one of my books. In Marrying Up, she was really secondary. The story belonged to the cousin Paris, and we don’t really even see her in Closer to Crazy, at least not yet. In Just Short of Crazy, Alexis takes the lead.
When we were casting, I had a picture in my head of what she was like. she’d recently shorn her long, store bought locks for a hairdo that showcased her new found confidence, and when Shelli Boone walked onto the scene, I knew she was Alexis. As you will read, she has some skills on stage as well. I’m hoping to have the opportunity to cast her in a stage production as well.
Who is Shelli?
Since her first on-screen job co-hosting BET’s "Mad Sports", Shelli has appeared in over 17 films, national and international commercials, print campaigns, radio spots and several hit television shows. One of her most notable roles was as series regular Evan Reed in "Saints and Sinners", a primetime drama on FOX’s My Network TV, still airing overseas. Shelli has co-starred on popular episodics such as "Entourage", "Days of Our Lives", "House MD", "Southland" and "The Young and the Restless". She most recently guest starred as Carol on Tyler Perry's "House of Payne". She also showed her range, playing twins, as the lead in the Lionsgate DVD release of "Holla", a comedy/horror film that garnered her a Best Actress nomination in the Chicago Film Festival. The film was acquired by BET for cable television. Stepping into the new digital age, Shelli is a series regular on three webisodes: She shows her comedic skills as the feisty Tawny in "Hot Sluts:Rated R!" sponsored by Comedy Central; she plays Mikki in the ensemble series "Straight Up!" and ventures into the dramatic as Alexis in "Closer to Crazy" written and produced by Nina Foxx.
Shelli was nominated for an NAACP Best Actress Award for her stage portrayal of Dorothy Dandridge in "Dorothy and Otto" and she also embodied the vivacious Josephine Baker in "When Divas Were Divas”, currently touring colleges in Southern California. Shelli also headlined the gospel production of "Treat Her Like a Lady", directed by Roy Fegan of The Five Heartbeats. “I think the stage is where I do some of my best work”, says Boone. “It’s where you can really connect with the audience. In a sense, you are feeling together. Plus, you never know what’s going to happen –and that’s the fun part!"
Shelli fell in love with performing at an early age. In fact, her mom still has the picture of Shelli on stage at age four dressed up in a little pink tutu - she was the tiniest thing up there but what a big smile! Shelli continued to develop her dance skills in tap, jazz and gymnastics as well as music - playing the violin and piano. However, during adolescence her interests switched to acting and she hit the theater scene in the D.C. Metropolitan area. Being a military brat (her mother just retired after over 20 years of service) has afforded Shelli the opportunity to travel the globe and participate in projects overseas and nationwide. This has also given her much insight into different cultures, lending her the ability to adapt quickly to new surroundings. She uses these experiences as a tool for character development and career growth.
With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Media Communications and having worked as a production assistant and line producer, Shelli also has extensive experience behind the camera. She is developing these skills further by writing, producing and directing her own projects. She has created two sold-out variety shows featuring song, dance and acting pieces from various performers in downtown Los Angeles. This is now an annual production. She has also written a one-woman show based on the lives of frontier women, called "Out West: Women of the Plains". Her acclaimed show now tours nationally.
Shelli is dedicated to making her career flourish and is always looking for ways to challenge herself and grow as an artist and a humanitarian. She continues to train in acting and music as well as boxing, stage combat and firearms. “I would kill to do an action film!” she often says. Shelli also takes classes for writing and directing and reads incessantly. “My faith, family and friends are my biggest sources of inspiration”, she says. “I am truly living my dream and I love the fact that I can wake up every day and be happy about what I do,” she says. “I am so excited about the future and I know that it’s only going to get better and better. I want to do it all…and bring it to the screen!” Mark her words - you will be seeing more from this young lady - this is just the beginning of her journey.
MORE INFO, PICS, REEL at www.shelliboone.com
I asked Shelli where she would like to see Alexis go in the next season of Closer to Crazy.
** As far as the character of Alexis, I would like to see us delve into her darker side. She seems like the perfect doting wife and stepmother, but Season 1 reveals to us that she might have some skeletons in her closet. What is the deal with her mystery caller? What does her past reveal? Maybe she gets pregnant? Is it really Remedy's? The field is wide open for her to have more drama in her relationship, maybe leaving a door open for Ayzah to get back in there with Remedy and creating more conflict between the two women.
When we were casting, I had a picture in my head of what she was like. she’d recently shorn her long, store bought locks for a hairdo that showcased her new found confidence, and when Shelli Boone walked onto the scene, I knew she was Alexis. As you will read, she has some skills on stage as well. I’m hoping to have the opportunity to cast her in a stage production as well.
Who is Shelli?
Since her first on-screen job co-hosting BET’s "Mad Sports", Shelli has appeared in over 17 films, national and international commercials, print campaigns, radio spots and several hit television shows. One of her most notable roles was as series regular Evan Reed in "Saints and Sinners", a primetime drama on FOX’s My Network TV, still airing overseas. Shelli has co-starred on popular episodics such as "Entourage", "Days of Our Lives", "House MD", "Southland" and "The Young and the Restless". She most recently guest starred as Carol on Tyler Perry's "House of Payne". She also showed her range, playing twins, as the lead in the Lionsgate DVD release of "Holla", a comedy/horror film that garnered her a Best Actress nomination in the Chicago Film Festival. The film was acquired by BET for cable television. Stepping into the new digital age, Shelli is a series regular on three webisodes: She shows her comedic skills as the feisty Tawny in "Hot Sluts:Rated R!" sponsored by Comedy Central; she plays Mikki in the ensemble series "Straight Up!" and ventures into the dramatic as Alexis in "Closer to Crazy" written and produced by Nina Foxx.
Shelli was nominated for an NAACP Best Actress Award for her stage portrayal of Dorothy Dandridge in "Dorothy and Otto" and she also embodied the vivacious Josephine Baker in "When Divas Were Divas”, currently touring colleges in Southern California. Shelli also headlined the gospel production of "Treat Her Like a Lady", directed by Roy Fegan of The Five Heartbeats. “I think the stage is where I do some of my best work”, says Boone. “It’s where you can really connect with the audience. In a sense, you are feeling together. Plus, you never know what’s going to happen –and that’s the fun part!"
Shelli fell in love with performing at an early age. In fact, her mom still has the picture of Shelli on stage at age four dressed up in a little pink tutu - she was the tiniest thing up there but what a big smile! Shelli continued to develop her dance skills in tap, jazz and gymnastics as well as music - playing the violin and piano. However, during adolescence her interests switched to acting and she hit the theater scene in the D.C. Metropolitan area. Being a military brat (her mother just retired after over 20 years of service) has afforded Shelli the opportunity to travel the globe and participate in projects overseas and nationwide. This has also given her much insight into different cultures, lending her the ability to adapt quickly to new surroundings. She uses these experiences as a tool for character development and career growth.
With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Media Communications and having worked as a production assistant and line producer, Shelli also has extensive experience behind the camera. She is developing these skills further by writing, producing and directing her own projects. She has created two sold-out variety shows featuring song, dance and acting pieces from various performers in downtown Los Angeles. This is now an annual production. She has also written a one-woman show based on the lives of frontier women, called "Out West: Women of the Plains". Her acclaimed show now tours nationally.
Shelli is dedicated to making her career flourish and is always looking for ways to challenge herself and grow as an artist and a humanitarian. She continues to train in acting and music as well as boxing, stage combat and firearms. “I would kill to do an action film!” she often says. Shelli also takes classes for writing and directing and reads incessantly. “My faith, family and friends are my biggest sources of inspiration”, she says. “I am truly living my dream and I love the fact that I can wake up every day and be happy about what I do,” she says. “I am so excited about the future and I know that it’s only going to get better and better. I want to do it all…and bring it to the screen!” Mark her words - you will be seeing more from this young lady - this is just the beginning of her journey.
MORE INFO, PICS, REEL at www.shelliboone.com
I asked Shelli where she would like to see Alexis go in the next season of Closer to Crazy.
** As far as the character of Alexis, I would like to see us delve into her darker side. She seems like the perfect doting wife and stepmother, but Season 1 reveals to us that she might have some skeletons in her closet. What is the deal with her mystery caller? What does her past reveal? Maybe she gets pregnant? Is it really Remedy's? The field is wide open for her to have more drama in her relationship, maybe leaving a door open for Ayzah to get back in there with Remedy and creating more conflict between the two women.
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